Thank you, Khadija! Many Muslim women feel this way. They just are not in the mosques daily or these discussion boards because they don't like the controversy. It's boring to them because they've hashed over it repeatedly. And they have a community which they are happy with.

This is my community, and I am so glad you posted this. JazzakAllahKhayr!

Al-Hamdulillah (From a Married Muslimah) La Howla Wa La Quwata Illa BiLLah - There is no Effort or Power except with Allah's Will.

Sister Herjihad, Jazak Allah for your kind words.Although I have been away from this board for a few months, this is my community also. I have no local Islamic community but Alhamdulillah I have a place to learn and share here at IC. Yes, I know that some people come here and for a number of reasons do not stay and I feel the full weight of their decision from time to time here myself. However, what I have come to know is that it is so important for me to have the on going support I get from those who are here to give it. Not all are, but Mashallah some are. So, I try my best to cling to the good and let the bad roll off my back like water on a duck and say Allahu Akbar often.

I know that a lot of Muslims might (more like probably will) say I hold this belief regarding hijab because I am a "westerner"; however, if that is what I wanted to do (i.e., to be a westerner) I simply do not believe that Allah would have so mercifully called me to Islam. I truly love Islam from the very depths of my heart and soul. I would not intentionally do anything to bring harm or to deface any aspect of Islam. I do not believe in innovating or deviating from Allah's truth; however, I do believe in obtaining the truth about Islam and not merely believing every opinion every sister or brother I come in contact has. One of the things I love about Islam is that we are each commanded to seek knowledge and understanding and not to simply depend on others to spoon feed us.We are not babies who lack the ability to reason…Allahu Akbar…Alhamdulillah…Allah is so merciful and kind.

If I chose not to wear a head cover, I do not do so based on some selfish desire to disobey Allah and to have my own way. I do so on the grounds that there is no conclusive evidence in the Qur'an that I must do so and that what truly is required of me is to guard my modesty in the absolute best way that I can. If guarding my modesty means I must wear a hijab then there is no question that I will be in hijab. However, if guarding my modesty is best done by not doing so, then that is also absolutely what I will do.

The mistake I see so many Muslims make and what I think causes many Muslims to fret and waste their energy on things that are not truly significant in Islam is that they cannot grasp the different between Allah's Laws and human existence and to understand how we should use Allah's Laws to live as Allah wants us to in this human existence we temporarily find ourselves in. Although Allah's Laws are objective truths, we exist in a world that naturally gives rise to situational subjectivism. What we need to do is to truly understand what Allah is commanding of us so that we can apply it to any and all situations as they arise in our lives and not simply have a checklist of do's and don'ts in our mind. The problem with only having a checklist is what do you do when you come up to a situation that is not on your list? The beauty of understand Islam on this deeper level is that as we are able to ascend to deeper and deeper levels of understanding, we strengthen our deen and are blessed with an understanding of Allah's knowledge which allow us to do what is Islamic-ly right in any situation, not just in this or that situation.We also became less judgmental of others and more introspective regarding our own deen which, inshallah, allows us to discuss topics without getting caught up in the pettiness that we humans so easily get caught up in.

Subhan Allah, it really does feel good to be back in IC forum.

Allah Hafiz

PAZ,

Khadija

Say: 'My prayer and my rites, my living and my dying, are for Allah alone, the Lord of all the worlds. (Qur'an, 6:162)

I so agree with you about the checklist mentality needing to be abandoned for thought and action. I feel so badly for women who have no choices about their situation. There are so many more important women's issues to be discussed amonst us.

Many women are abused in their homes all over the world. What can we do to help them? Women who follow the pillars of Islaam need to pull together to protect each other and get the men in our communities do so also.

I heard stories that non-American Muslim women told me ranging from having had porn videos in their home as children, to having been molested or raped by family members and having no one to tell because of what would have happened to them.

The practise of having family members sharing sleeping space without adult supervision is wrong. Now, I saw a family who had three rooms for about 12 people. That's the kitchen, a small living room, and a very small bedroom; well, the patio was medium size and good for non-rainy days. They had the boys in one room and the girls in the other. I think mom and dad may have slept in the kitchen on the floor when they needed more privacy. So I know that people can separate in sleeping unless they have less rooms than this. We need to encourage good separation of the sexes when it is most appropriate.

One story is of cousins of different sexes sharing sleeping space after they had reached puberty, just for visiting purposes! Cultures who have the idea that the rules don't apply to them are wrong. Why separate from strangers who would only say hi to you, when you are exposed to this kind of thing at home? We need to work together on issues like this to protect the Ummah of our Holy Prophet Muhammad.

Al-Hamdulillah (From a Married Muslimah) La Howla Wa La Quwata Illa BiLLah - There is no Effort or Power except with Allah's Will.

Sister Herjihad, I agree with you that as Muslimat we all need to pull together to try and bring about positive changes for the betterment of the Ummah. Muslimat all over the globe are being denies their Islamic rights. However, this is a completely different topic so maybe you should start another thread. ...hint...hint

PAZ

Say: 'My prayer and my rites, my living and my dying, are for Allah alone, the Lord of all the worlds. (Qur'an, 6:162)

They both fall under women's issues, and I know that you got my point. Will the others? ISA. I would love to advocate for women's rights because when women and mothers are respected and honored and cared for, we share this bounty with our families.

Al-Hamdulillah (From a Married Muslimah) La Howla Wa La Quwata Illa BiLLah - There is no Effort or Power except with Allah's Will.

so if we are not explicitly told in the qu'ran to cover our heads and islam does not tell us to then why on earth do we do it? Why is the hijab ban in france such an issue for us muslim women? why is sabina begum in the UK such an icon for young muslim girls in england? why are the wives of all the most prominent islamic scholars of islam today wearing the head covering? Obviously there is somthing in islam that tells us to do this doesn't it? otherwise we might aswell just take off our veils and become "free " . i'm sick to death of all this reform islam business. islam is perfect, its flawless, its the religion of haq. no it doesn't allow homosexuality, yes it allows polygamy, yes you can marry younger women, but you can marry older ones too, yes women have to cover,...these things are mentioned in islam. why be ashamed of the truth? in islam women have the right to divorce, property, marriage, the first martyr in islam was a woman, women have participated in battles alongside sahabah. why is it the muslim women are nowadays banging on about things that islam does not allow. its nice that sisters are preaching islam but they need to remember put it across as it is. don't try to change it. because by doing so its an insult to the deen and you won't be successful anyway.

Here we go again. What I have found with regard to this issue is that the discussion always goes around in circles.

Sometimes I feel that these questions are posted just to cause Fitnah. Auzo Billahe minash Shaitanir-Rajim.

Sis Khadija, it seems that you are trying to confuse the already confused. To me it seems that although you are quoting the same Ayat as Sis Queeni you are saying that neither Hijab nor Niqab is a requirement for the Muslimah today and Hijab/Niqab was only meant for the wives of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam).

Regarding covering the face, yes there are scholars who say that it is not necessary and there are others who are saying that it is an obligation for a woman to cover her face. Allah knows best. But covering the head and the bosom (the purpose of the Hijab) is an obligation which no scholar as yet refuted. (none that I know of)

Here I am not talking about today's so called "scholars". We have all become scholars of a sort Auzo Billahe minash Shaitanir-Rajim. One of the signs of the Final Hour is when religious ignorance will prevail and religious knowledge will be taken away by the death of religious scholars. (Al-Bukhari volume 1 Hadith no 80)

"May Allah bestow His Mercy on the early emigrant women, when Allah revealed "and draw their veils all over their bosoms" – they tore their woolen dresses or waist-bindings cloth or apron and covered their heads and faces with those cut pieces of cloth." (Sahih al Bukhari No 4759)

For any sister to deny and say that Hijab is not an obligation on women, may find herself committing a grave mistake. And to tell others not to wear the Hijab – she most definitely will be committing a sin. The choice to wear or not to wear the Hijab is individual. And that is between Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and the person. Alhamdulillah we do not have to bear the burden of others not even our close relatives. To each their own.

Regarding Niqab, like I said earlier – here scholars differ. But we have a Hadith again by A'ishah (Radhi Allahu Anhu). As we all know one of the requirements for a woman during pilgrimage is to uncover her face. "When we were in Ihram and the riders would pass by us, when they got close to us, we would lower our outer cloak from our heads over our faces." (Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud and ibn Majah). There is an interesting point here: if it is a requirement for women to uncover their faces during pilgrimage that means that their faces should be covered at other times, or else this statement is null and void. And secondly when we are amongst non-Mahram men we should draw our outer cloak to cover our faces even during the pilgrimage.

Another point sister Khatija you are trying to prove that veiling was only for the wives of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) and not for the Muslimah even during that period. You are also using Hadith emphasizing that it was a curtain not a veil.

So are you trying to tell us that the Prophet's (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) wives only (Radhi Allahu Anhuna) were ordered to speak to non-Marham men from behind a curtain that’s it? Did their go out of their dwellings with their faces uncovered? Oh sori you do state that:

"And even if face veils were required of the Prophet’s (pbuh) wives while outside of (or even inside) their homes, does this lead to it being obligatory for all Muslimahs?I think not necessarily and certainly not explicitly."

If Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala made the wives of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam); the mothers of the Believers whom none could marry after his death – Islamically speaking all men living during that period were Mahrams to the Prophet's (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) wives (Radhi Allahu Anhuna), so really speaking these Ayat should not imply to them. Unfortunately that is what you are trying to say that these Ayat refer only to the wives of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) to the exclusion of other Muslimah during that period, today and till the Day of Judgment. Is that really your understanding? Don't you think there is something wrong with this reasoning? Shouldn’t we be trying our best to follow in the footsteps of the wives of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam)? Isn’t their example that all Muslimah should strive to follow?

I don't think anyone will be upset but what you have said, it is your opinion based on your understanding. This is my opinion based on my understanding. We all belong to this community as we are all members here even though some of us are not as active as others. We are here to support and help each other to become better Muslimah so that we can achieve our ultimate goal ie. Jannatul-Firdaus Insha Allah Ameen!

It is not a question about being spoon fed Sister Khatija, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tell us to refer matters which we don't know/understand to the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) (during his life time) and the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) further instructed us to refer to men of knowledge, that is why most of us refer to the scholars to better understand the different aspects of the Glorious Qur'an and Sunnah. I have yet to find a renowned scholar claiming that Hijab is NOT an obligation. Alhamdulillah my research led me to wear the Hijab eventually. Insha Allah I pray with further research your heart will be opened to the truth. Ameen!

Being "western or eastern" is not the question. This is a global issue. Alhamdulillah Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala guided us to HIS Deen, but HE also warns us that we will be tested in many ways, and personally I feel the biggest test for women to accept is that Hijab is an obligation. Alhamdulillah He opened my heart to HIS Deen, then wearing the Hijab and Insha Allah one day I pray, soon I will also wear the Niqab, because a tiny part in my heart tells me that it is an obligation. Even if it is not, Insha Allah it will bring me closer to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. Insha Allah Ameen!

May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala forgive us for our shortcomings and protect us from the evil within ourselves. Ameen!

“Verily your Lord is quick in punishment; yet He is indeed Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful (Surah Al-An’am 6:165)
"Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him is our return" (Surah Baqarah 2: 155)

Sister Herijhad I agree that there a lot of other important issues that can be discussed, but Hijab is also a very important issue. And it is one of the issues that will never go away.

However I take offense to your mention of non-American Muslims and their family behavior. Raping, immorality etc are behaviors of the west, it is so common in that society that it is now overlooked. So what do you mean by non-American Muslims - Muslims who have settled in America who have now adapted to the norms of this society and who have left the teachings and duties of being a Muslim. Any Muslim whether he is an American or non-American, living in the west or the east, who holds on firmly to the Rope of Allah and follows the teachings as laid down in the Shariah will not do anything shameful to jeopardize his place in Paradise.

It is when we love this world and live only for this world that we are faced with this problem.

I agree morals amongst Muslims in the east and west are falling very rapidly. The reason why it is so noticeable now amongst Muslims, is that Muslims always set high standards for themselves from time immemorial, now they have reverted to being ignorant of the true teachings of Islam. Moral decadence was always a way of life in other cultures so there are no shock waves. It is an accepted norm.

Since as you mentioned both are woman's issues, I responded here.

Insha Allah don't use a term like that – be more general, I feel you are being racialist and that is against the teachings of Islam. It is like you are saying American Muslims are saints and non-American Muslims are rapist, wife abusers. etc.

“Verily your Lord is quick in punishment; yet He is indeed Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful (Surah Al-An’am 6:165)
"Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him is our return" (Surah Baqarah 2: 155)

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